Pouncival loved Bombalurina so much. Even after hearing so many things about her as a youngling. The things that he heard were things like, "She's a flirt." Of course, those things were true. The only tom she truly loved was Rum Tum Tugger. Pounce did not believe she loved Tugger though it was so very true. Pouncival just can't get her out of his head, though.

Bombalurina walked up to Pouncival one day. Well, at least, that's what he thought. She was simply passing by. Most toms stared at her as she walked.

"Hey, Pounce," she flirted. Pouncival was now in the clouds. He was not responding. His eyes grew wide just from her saying "Hello." Everything was silent until one tom let out a chuckle. It was Alonzo. He was laughing at Pouncival because, to him, Pouncival looked like a little child who has had their first crush. This is because he was saying nothing. Pounce was speachless. Soon, after looking at Bombalurina who was still smiling, Pouncival realized that he was being made fun of. More toms started to laugh and before Pouncival knew it, a whole bunch of cats were giggling. Almost all cats, except for Bombalurina, the one who was still smiling at Pouncival. He was curious why she was the only one not laughing, but even more curious why she would stay and talk to him. Her eyes looked desperate for something that he could not name. He wished he knew what was on her mind.

"Hi," Pouncival finally answered. He looked around and most cats were gone now.

"Oh so you can talk," Bombalurina joked. She had such witts. Perhaps that it how she flirted. Pouncival grew red cheeks as he scratched his head.

"Yeah," he softly said, "I guess I have stage fright or something." He chuckled hoping to succeed with his joke.

Bombalurina, too, let out a laugh and said, "Well, we are alone now so you, darling, do not have to worry one bit about that." Pouncival grinned as he looked up. Bombalurina's cheeks were as rosey as ever and her smile was perfect like it always is.

"I'll see you around then," said Bomba. Pouncival was shocked at this for he had thought she was going to ask or chat about something. His eyes looked puzzled.

Bomba noticed and asked, "Everything okay, Pouncival?"

"Yeah," he said getting rid of his confused eyes, "You just seemed like you were gonna say something. That's all."

Bombalurina tried to hide her surprised expression with a guilty face as she said, "Sorry, but I actually was just greeting you."

"Yeah, alright. Bye," Pouncival said as he waved his hand.

"Bye," said Bombalurina walking away with such perfection. Pouncival truly was confused. He had thought she talked to him for another purpose. He was not completely sure what her purpose was even after she had told him.

You're standing right in front of me
With a purpose I can't see
I wish I knew what's on your mind
But that's a key I'll never find

After that encounter with the Queen of which everyone loves, Pouncival got to thinking. Soon, the Jellicle Ball would be here. Pouncival did not believe to have any admirers so why not ask Bombalurina? He had all the confidence in the world that Bomba would attend the Ball with him. Why wouldn't she? Pouncival smiled at the thought of it.

Pouncival was waking in the junkyard. Most cats were out doing their own thing, but Pounce did see someone near him. It was Demeter. Pouncival knew that she was very close to Bombalurina so he went over to talk to her.

Demeter quickly turned her head when she heard Pouncival say, "Hey!"

"Hello," Demeter replied faking a smile only to be friendly.

"Can I ask you something?" he said to Demeter as her eyes grew large with concern.

"Of course," she replied; her eyes still big and dark.

"I've heard things about Bombalurina (untrue, of course.) It's that she's a flirt and stuff lik that. Why do cats say those things?"

"well," Demeter said, "I-"

Before she could finish, a loud voice said, "They say those things, little tom, because they are true!" The voice came from Munkustrap, Demeter's mate.

"Hey," Demeter said playfully, "It's not that bad of a thing."

"Says her best friend," Munku joked, "but what about to those heartbroken toms who have fallen in love with that gorgeous flirt?" Pounce was now really confused. Were Demeter and Munku saying that Bomba really was a flirt?

"Hey, she isn't that bad of a queen," said Demeter as Munku put his paw around her shoulder.

"Wait," said Pouncival frowning, "so she really is flirting with... everyone?"

"I wouldn't say everyone," started Demeter.

"But the Scarlet Queen has to find something to do for fun," Munku finished joking. Pouncival was quite disturbed by Bomba's closest friend admitting to Bombalurina being a flirt. He started to think to himself.

"Maybe," he thought, "they're right. She was just, as she said, "greeting me." She does that every time she passes a tom." Pouncival continued to think about this. "She flirts with me, but she also flirts with them?" He knew the answer to this. There was so much evidence, but Pouncival chose not to believe it. In fact, he was going to ask Bomba to the Jellicle Ball. Unfortunately for Pouncival, Bombalurina was never passing by alone. He could not get her alone for a very long time, but he still continued waiting.

One morning, however, Pouncival saw a red cat passing by. It was Bombalurina.

"Hey," he said as he scurried over to her.

"Hi," she said putting on a large smile that lit up her face. "So, Pouncival, what have you been up to?" she asked with her angel-like voice.

"Well, not much, "he quickly replied as he tried to think of what he should say next. "You?"

"Well, you know, we've got the Jellicle Ball to think of," she replied this time not flirting.

"Yes, of course," he said happy that she brought up the topic, "Have you anyone to attend the Jellicle Ball with?"

"Actually, no," she said about to speak once more, but was cut off by Pouncival.

"Then," he said, "It was kind of fortunate that you were here today."

"Oh?" she answered still grinning, "How so, Pouncival?"

"I thought maybe you would go with me," he said very quickly. To his surprise, Bombalurina's smile faded. She looked quite nervous. Pouncival bit his lip, feeling akward at the silence that was present.

"Um," she said now biting her lip. She did not want to hurt him, but Pouncival could not see that for he was crushed when she said, "I- I'd rather...not." He frowned. He was heartbroken just like Munkustrap had remarked.

"Sh-She is what everyone says," Pounce thought thinking about all the evidence of her being a flirt. "What did I do wrong?" he said wondering for what reason she would not sttend the Ball with him.

"Pounce, it's reall not you," she said, "It's just, at the Ball, your date seems so..." She paused to find the right word, "so final," she finished. "It seems as if your date to the Ball must be your partner for more than just... dancing," she told him. He still wondered why she would not go with him. He knew that there was no one else she would want to go with.

He was sad and sounded dissapointed when he said, "But I really waited for so long." Bomba did look guilty, but was it real? "I waited so long to get you alone?" He normally would keep those words inside his head, but in the mood he was in, he would have said anything that was on his mind.

Pouncival now realized something. He still was no longer in the mood where he spoke his mind, so he just thought, "She is playing me!" His eyes grew big as he realized the "lies" weren't lies at all.

"I'll go somewhere else with you," Bombalurina assured him as she rubbed her paws through the fur on Pouncival's head. She rubbed his ear and then said, "I will see you some other time then?" She soon walked away.

He followed her to speak his mind, but when he reached her location, she was with Rum Tum Tugger! She was flirting with him! Pounce watched as her red fur brushed up against his. To Pouncival was shocked when he saw Bomba about to kiss Tugger. He was so very jelous, but did not know why for he still "knew" that she didn't really love any of the toms and he still wondered why wouldn't she pick him? Pounce stopped thinking for before his very eyes, he saw Bombalurina get dropped by the Tugger. He flirts with every queen, but when the queen who everyone wants tries to flirt with him, she gets dropped! Next, the even more shocking happend. TTugger bumped Bomba away. She was actually mad now. Pouncival could see the fire in her eyes. To Pouncival's surprise, Bombalurina stopped flirting with Tugger and rubbed Pouncival's leg.

"This game of yours, Bombalurina, will it ever end?" he thought to himself.

I wanna know what I did wrong
I really waited for so long
To be alone with you again
I bet your game will never end